May the FUR'ce be at Peace

Digressing from the usual pomp and noise synonymous with Diwali, a volley of Bengalureans are giving their nod to thoughtful acts of celebration — in a bid to capture and live up to the true essence of the festival of lights. Gauging how debilitating the effect of noisy crackers can be on pets, the first edition of A-fur-Diwali is all set to kick start from October 29. We talk to Srikanth Shankar, the front-runner of the idea and excited pet lovers in the city for more…

“Diwali is also the time that most dogs go missing because of the loud noises that are caused due to crackers and fireworks. The idea really is for people to take their dogs out of the city, away from the cracker noise and do something which is safe and fun,” shares Srikanth, who will be hosting the four day long idea at the elephant pond.

While the idea is to engage one’s pet and strengthen their bond, there’s also a subtle message of wanting to spread awareness, he reiterates. “The idea is to do stuff that one would normally want to do, but this helps include the dog too. Any new activity that comes up ultimately benefits the dog and that is always a great thing.  I love dogs and being a dog owner myself, I can relate to what other dog lovers want. Through the concept, I also wish people educate themselves better in order to pamper their dogs right,” says Srikanth.

While he has been hosting pet activities all through the year since 2010, he believes it’s during the time of celebrations that a difference is really made.

“When I started doing events for dogs in 2010, there weren’t as many options for them. Now, it’s great to see so many options opening up for dogs. However, the irony is, during festivals, people who otherwise would spend a bomb on their pets conveniently overlook the consequences of their activities on their furry friends. I wanted to change that,” adds the certified canine behaviourist.

With barely a week left for the concept to see the light of day, the idea has caught the interest of pet lovers. Speaking of the same, Rashmi Mittal, a 28-year-old software professional reveals, “I’ve always believed in frills free celebrations.

For a large number of people who own pets, the concern is to keep their pets safe and engaged. Since this is the  first edition, I would want to see how it pans out. I don’t have much expectations but I like the idea of activities for pets being curated.” With the event kick starting on Saturday, Rohith Sharma, a young college student feels the idea needs more impetus.

“I think it shouldn’t be a one-time-event. While I appreciate kick starting something like this, the challenge lies is making such practices more regular. I also hope there’s more planning, as pets needs their space to open up and truly enjoy. I’m glad the city is becoming more receptive to the needs of animals, in general. I’m truly excited about it.”